Summer Lawn Tips

Mowing

Always makes sure your lawn mower blades are sharp. Most blades need sharpening at least 3 times a season. You can tell when your blades are dull by looking at the top of the grass plant right after mowing. If its white and frayed then your blades are dull. Or if your lawn was deep green before mowing and right after it has a dull brown tint to it.
Raise your mowing height for the summer months - 2.5-3" is the best for our northern grass types. The higher the grass the more shade it creates for the soil thus keeping soil temps lower. The longer the grass plants the longer the grass roots. The longer the roots the healthier the plants will be.
In most conditions leaving the clippings on the lawn after mowing is best, as long as your are not leaving clumps on the lawn. Within several days the clippings will break down. If your lawn has some typical summer diseases, like red thread or brown patch then you would want to bag your clippings while the disease is present.

Water during early morning to late morning times, and try to avoid late afternoon or night watering. However if nighttime watering is the only time you can water then that's better than no watering.
It’s better to water for longer periods (heavy soaking) and skip days then to water lightly every day. 45 min to 60 min every other day is better than 10 min each day.
Sometimes watering during 11am - 3 pm is a good thing. You will not burn the lawn if you water at this time, the water will evaporate faster. Sometimes when the grass is stressed from drought or insect activity during these times it helps to give it some water.
Its better to start watering early in the season and keep to a schedule, Starting to water in mid July when the turf is showing stress will take allot more water to get the turf to respond.